Six Philly-Area Rail Proposals That Never Came to Be (But Still Could)

Schuylkill Valley Metro

Proposed: Early 1990s.Goal: Light metro from Center City to Reading.Proponents: Montco officials hoping to stimulate economic development.Opponents: The city was lukewarm; rail advocates thought the project was politically motivated.Fate: Years later, then-gov Ed Rendell pronounced the project dead when the FTA rejected a funding proposal.

Cross-County Metro

Proposed: Early 1990s.Goal: Connect communities from Trenton to Downingtown along a former Pennsylvania Railroad line.Proponents: See: Schuylkill Valley Metro.Opponents: Rail advocates, claiming it was a waste of money.Fate: A federally funded study found little interest from prospective riders. It died quietly after that.

West Chester Branch Restoration

Proposed: 2011.Goal: Restore service from Elwyn to West Chester.Proponents: West Chester.Opponents: None at present.Fate: Restoration as far as Wawa is now under way, with service expected to resume in 2020. A new study by PennDOT and SEPTA wrapped earlier this year.

Bethlehem Branch Restoration

Proposed: 2000.Goal: Bring back service between Lansdale and Quakertown.Proponents: Montco and Bucks communities along the line.Opponents: None at present.Fate: Current plans call for restoring service as far as Perkasie. DVRPC and SEPTA are scouting for funding.

Newtown Branch Restoration

Proposed: Mid-1980s.Goal: Restore service between Fox Chase and Newtown.Proponents: Growth-minded Bucks County officials.Opponents: Montco communities along the line, who cherish their peace and quiet.Fate: After a test using diesel railcars proved disappointing and an attempt to electrify the line flopped, Montco converted part of the route to a trail.

Glassboro-Camden Line

Proposed: 1996.Goal: Light rail from Camden to Rowan U.Proponents: Glassboro and Gloucester County officials targeting population and job growth.Opponents: Wenonah residents voted against a station in their town.Fate: Uncertainty over who’d run the line quashed an environmental study in 2014. Study resumed last August; line operation remains unclear.

Published as “Rails to Nowhere” in the March 2018 issue of Philadelphia magazine.